Ford Fund and Volunteers Help Exceed $1.8M Goal for Bed & Bread Club Radiothon

Mar 02, 2023

The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit held its 36th Annual Bed & Bread Club Radiothon which was presented by Ford Motor Company Fund. The collective effort surpassed the fundraising goal with a final tally of $1,888,503. 

Left to Right, Dan Aronson, representing The Artichoke Garlic Foundation with WJR Radio Host Guy Gordon were present during the final segment of the Radiothon. Click to Enlarge

Left to Right, Dan Aronson, representing The Artichoke Garlic Foundation with WJR Radio Host Guy Gordon were present during the final segment of the Radiothon.

The Bed & Bread Program trucks crisscross Detroit making stops along three different routes, delivering nearly 3,500 meals each day to men, women and children who would otherwise go without. That’s more than 1.3 million meals every year.

The 27-hour radio fundraiser, held on February 23 and 24, aired on 760 WJR with its on-air personalities Paul W. Smith, Sean Baligian, Marie Osborne, Tom Jordan, Chris Renwick, Lloyd Jackson, Mitch Albom, Ken Brown, Steve Courtney, Guy Gordon and Bed & Bread Club founder and Detroit radio Hall of Famer Dick Purtan broadcasting from The Salvation Army Great Lakes Divisional Headquarters in Southfield.

Left to right: Joe Provenzano, Mobility Director and Volunteerism at Ford Motor Company Fund, Lt. Colonel John Turner, Divisional Commander at The Salvation Army Great Lakes Division on air during the Radiothon Click to Enlarge

Left to right: Joe Provenzano, Mobility Director and Volunteerism at Ford Motor Company Fund, Lt. Colonel John Turner, Divisional Commander at The Salvation Army Great Lakes Division on air during the Radiothon

Throughout the day, appearances from special guests encouraged the community to donate and help those who are hungry and homeless in metro Detroit. Michigan natives Tim Allen and Terry Crews also joined to show their support.

Ford team members were invited to support the cause by volunteering to answer the phones or by sending donations of any size.

Ford Volunteer Corps phone bank volunteers hard at work taking donations. Click to Enlarge

Ford Volunteer Corps phone bank volunteers hard at work taking donations.

Supporters can still make a monetary contribution to the Radiothon by Donating online

Over the course of 36 years, The Salvation Army’s Bed & Bread Club Radiothon has raised more than $43.1 million to help those in need.